Stating that preventing Coronavirus spread was highest priority and situation was under control so far because of steps taken by state Government, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has directed all the district collectors to prevent crowds at religious places during regular daily religious rituals. Chief Minister made it clear that it was responsibility of collectors to ensure that prevention of epidemic act was strictly implemented and after the calamity of Corona disease was over the religious festivities and celebrations can take place as usual. He also directed that for preventing spread of disease, no convention or program of political organizations and parties should take place.
Chief Minister on Monday had a video conference with all the divisional commissioners, district collectors from his official residence Varsha bungalow. Minister for industries Subhash Desai, health minister Rajesh Tope, minister for tourism Aditya Thackeray, minister of state Rajendra Patil-Yadravkar, chief secretary Ajoy Mehta, principal secretary to the health department Dr Pradeep Vyas were present.
Stating that any person who is infected with Corona virus was not a criminal, chief minister directed the officials to ensure treatment as well as counselling for such a patient. He asked the officials to undertake campaign to create awareness among people towards prevention of epidemic act since it was in the interest of people. He said that those who have been found positive and are quarantined need to be provided with necessary facilities and counselling. He also informed that the patients in the state who are admitted to hospitals are giving response to the treatment.
Chief Minister directed the district administration that law and rules were for everyone and there should not be any permission for either political programs or religious festivities or celebrations. He said that citizens who have been advised to be home quarantines need to stay at home and take care of others in addition to themselves. He told that while closing down schools in rural places, it was to be ensured that sanitisers and soap as well as water are available at public toilets. By stating that state Government was taking all the measures to prevent Corona virus impact, chief minister appealed to citizens to remain alert.
Asking the officials to ban all the religious festivities to prevent spread of Corona virus infection, the devotees need to be stopped at religious places with an exception of daily worships and religious rituals. Asking the district collectors to effectively implement law in larger public interest, chief minister told to close down all the schools in rural areas. He told that elections to the village Panchayats and local bodies have been postponed by three months. Stating that divisional commissioners would be given total of Rs. 45 crores as first instalment for implementing emergency measures to prevent Corona virus infections. By asking the officials to implement home quarantine for the travellers who have been told to go for home quarantine, chief minister appealed the officials to undertake these measures with maintaining the human face of the same.
